National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR)

Dawn Humphreys, Sep 21, 2023, 12:24 AM
Dawn Humphreys National Catalyst of Vineyard Engage
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Saturday, September 30th, has been set aside as the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR). The day honours the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. It also reminds us of the ongoing impact, pain and legacy of residential schools, which have affected all Indigenous People.

September 30th is also Orange Shirt Day–an Indigenous-led day to reflect on the experiences of residential schools based around the experience of Phyllis Webstad of Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, who on her first day of school had her new orange shirt taken from her. Today, her experience represents the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

This year on Sunday, September 24th, we are inviting all our churches across the nation to pray these written prayers together to prepare for the week leading up to the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Saturday, September 30th. The liturgies of longing and listening follow a theme of Lament. An Indigenous elder in our Canadian Vineyard family and a Non-Indigenous leader in our Canadian Vineyard family have prayerfully written them. Prayers of Longing and Listening HERE

"Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice!" (Psalm 130:1)

If we do not acknowledge the need for grief and mourning, how can comfort (and healing) be truly experienced? If the pain and suffering of others is not seen, heard and responded to, how can a new path of healing be forged?

As a society, we are uncomfortable with Lament and our churches often reflect this attitude, too.

Think of how many worship services you have been to where songs of lament, prayers of lament or space for lament were part of the service. And yet, lament is all over the Biblical story. All our prophets lamented and many of them had no one else to go to but God Himself. Almost a third of the Psalms, and the entire book of Lamentations, are concerned with lament. Lament, like every other emotion, is an important way for us to connect with our own pain and with the pain and trauma of others.

How sobering it was to realize that it was not until 2021, when the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc in Kamloops announced finding the remains of 215 children buried on the grounds at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, that there was a collective awakening amongst Canadians about the full extent of what had happened at residential schools. This was after Indigenous voices had shared and lamented about this reality for many years. And it was also well after the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, released in 2015, had devoted a whole section on missing children and unmarked burials, 273 pages, with several of the 94 Calls to Action dedicated to the missing children and burial information. And yet, it went unnoticed and unacknowledged by most Canadians....

As one wise Indigenous elder in our Vineyard family has shared:

There are many Indigenous people who say that we are still in the truth part of this and are sensing the weariness of some who just want to move on and out of this uncomfortable space, and moving on does not fit well with Indigenous ways of thinking and doing. Those of you who have taken part in Indigenous ceremony and other gatherings can well understand that we often take our time getting to where we are going. I've had ample opportunity to grow in patience as I have taken part in these. So I deeply appreciate that the Vineyard community is willing to engage in that process and tarry with all of us.'

As Christ followers in the Vineyard family, we have this God-given opportunity to acknowledge and repent of the ways Christians in the past have misrepresented Christ, especially to the Indigenous people of Canada. Our responsibility as representatives of Jesus and as the church today is to join in solidarity with the Indigenous People in their suffering and through our prayers and actions so that healing can come and reconciliation can happen.

An Indigenous elder in our movement remarked that:

'I've heard it said that we [Indigenous People] are a particularly difficult people to evangelize because of our distrust of government, and the abuses from the church. Casey Church, an amazing pastor and Potowatami Indigenous man from the USA, has lamented that only 5% of our people have been able to receive the good news of the Creator and His gift of salvation.'

What are some ways we are being invited to prepare and participate in the NDTR that will begin to make a difference?

AT OUR SUNDAY GATHERINGS ON SEPTEMBER 24TH:

PRAY THESE PRAYERS IN YOUR SERVICES  - A reminder that on Sunday, September 24th, we are inviting all our churches across the nation to pray these written prayers together in preparation for the week leading up to the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Saturday, September 30th. An Indigenous elder in our Canadian Vineyard family and a Non-Indigenous leader in our Canadian Vineyard family have prayerfully written these prayers. Liturgies of Longing and Listening HERE

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WEAR ORANGE AT YOUR WORSHIP SERVICE -
Wear Orange Shirts on Sunday, September 24th and especially on Saturday, September 30th to raise awareness and stand in solidarity with the tragic legacy of residential schools. As much as possible, wear Indigenous-designed shirts. Purchasing shirts designed and sold by Indigenous communities means the profits go back into supporting their communities rather than buying from Walmart or other companies who are profiting themselves.

TAKE PHOTOS - we want you to take photos of you all in orange so that we can post these on the Vineyard Canada website to say we stand in solidarity with the Indigenous people of Canada. Please send any photos you have to [Please enable JavaScript to see this content]  or [Please enable JavaScript to see this content] or text us if you have either of our numbers.

HOW ELSE CAN YOUR CHURCH PARTICIPATE?

JOIN US SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1ST - ONLINE PRAYER GATHERING FOR PASTORS & LEADERS:
TIME ZONES: 2pm PST (3pm MT,4pm CT, 5pm ET, 6pm AT)
Vineyard Engage and Vineyard Pulse are teaming up to host a 45-minute online gathering to worship, reflect, listen, and pray together in response to the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Join amazing Vineyard Indigenous Elders and Non-Indigenous leaders as we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit together.
Register HERE to receive a link to join the Zoom call

FIND OUT WHAT NATION YOU LIVE AND WORK ON - Pray, especially for the elected and hereditary chiefs and the Nations in your area on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. If you are interested in exploring how you can follow Indigenous protocols of gift giving as a church family to begin building a relationship with the Nations in your area, click HERE or contact [Please enable JavaScript to see this content]

FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION: